Aster plant named ‘Pretty Wendy’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Aster  plant cultivar is disclosed, characterized by a narrowly elliptic leafshape, more than two whorls of ray florets and a pure white ray floret color.

Latin name of the genus and species: Aster L.

Denomination: ‘PRETTY WENDY’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar ‘PRETTY WENDY’ is a product of a hybridization of theparent Aster plant varieties, Nachtvlinder B. V. selection numbers99321×99117 (not patented). The new cultivar was discovered and selectedby Nachtvlinder B. V., in Ter Aar, Holland in June 2002.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘PRETTY WENDY’ by vegetativecuttings was performed in Ter Aar, Holland and has shown that the uniquefeatures of this new cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type onsuccessive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘PRETTY WENDY’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘PRETTY WENDY.’ These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘PRETTY WENDY’ as a new and distinct Astercultivar:

-   -   1. Narrowly elliptic leafshape;    -   2. More than two whorls of ray florets; and    -   3. Pure white ray floret color.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘PRETTY WENDY’ differ from the parentvarieties in most horticultural characteristics, including leaf shapeand plant form.

In comparison to the commercially available variety ‘White Prestige’(not patented) the new variety is taller and has a more upright overallplant growth habit. Also, the new variety ‘PRETTY WENDY’ has brighterwhite ray florets and a more upright ray floret aspect. Also, the leafshape of the new variety ‘PRETTY WENDY’ is linear compared to theelliptic leaf shape of ‘White Prestige.’ Finally, ‘PRETTY WENDY’ is lesssensitive to Botrytis in flower than ‘White Prestige’ and less sensitiveto powdery mildew.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘PRETTY WENDY’ grown in a field. One cutting was used,planted in April and grown in a greenhouse. The colors are as nearlytrue as is reasonably possible in a color representation of this type.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘PRETTY WENDY’ plants grown in Ter Aar,Holland during the month of June 2005. The growing temperature rangedfrom 16° C. to 18° C. at night to 20° C. to 30° C. during the day.Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typicalflowering types.

-   Botanical classification: Aster L. cultivar ‘PRETTY WENDY.’-   Commercial classification: Cut flower Aster.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to rooting: Total time is 13 weeks, with 7 weeks of 18 hours of    daylight followed by 6 weeks of 12 hours of daylight.-   Root description: Fine, fibrous.-   Form: Narrow inverted triangle.-   Growth habit: Upright.-   Height: Approximately 66.2 cm.-   Plant spread: Approximately 18.3 cm.-   Growth rate: Moderate.-   Branching characteristics: Free-branching.-   Diameter of branches: Approximately 2 mm.-   Average number of branches: Approximately 16.-   Length of lateral branches: Approximately 18.7 cm.-   Number of leaves per lateral branch: Approximately 12.-   Stem color: Between Green 143A and Green 143B with lighter    longitudinal stripes between Yellow-Green 144A and Yellow-Green    144B.-   Age of plant described: Approximately 90 days.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate single.        -   Average length.—Approximately 10.4 cm.        -   Average width.—Approximately 1.3 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Narrowly elliptic.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Margin.—Outwardly entire, but in fact with very small            serrated teeth with an average 30 teeth per cm. Lower leaves            are serrate with an average 1 tooth per cm.        -   Texture of top surface.—Slightly glossy, smooth.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Smooth.        -   Leaf internode length.—Approximately 2.6 cm.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near Green 137A. Young            foliage under side: Between Green 137B and Green 137C.            Mature foliage upper side: Between Green 137A and 139A.            Mature foliage under side: Near Green 137B.        -   Venation.—Type: Palmately net. Venation color upper side:            Near Yellow-Green 144A. Venation color under side: Near            Green 143A.-   Petiole: No petioles, leaves are sessile (decurrent).

BLOOM

-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Flowering habit.—Continuous, depending on method of culture.            Terminal inflorescence opens first, all flowers have opened            in about five weeks. Flower response time when grown as cut            flower, average 13 weeks.        -   Inflorescence form.—Solitary heads.        -   Natural flowering season.—Late September to late October.        -   Number of inflorescences per lateral branch.—Approximately            10.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—Approximately 3 cm.        -   Inflorescence depth.—Approximately 1.8 cm.        -   Inflorescence longevity on plant.—Approximately 14 days.        -   Persistence.—Self-cleaning.        -   Total disc diameter.—Approximately 4 mm.        -   Receptacle diameter.—Approximately 1.4 cm.        -   Receptacle height.—Approximately 7 mm.        -   Inflorescence aspect.—Upright.        -   Inflorescence shape.—Inflorescences consisting of many rows            of ray florets and a receptacle consisting of four rays of            involucres.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.-   Ray florets:    -   -   Appearance.—Matte.        -   Texture.—Smooth with very short hairs at the base near            Yellow-White 158D.        -   Average number of ray florets per inflorescence.—135.        -   Average number of rows of ray florets.—Approximately 7.        -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.        -   Aspect.—Outward with centrally placed ray florets upright.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Apex.—Broad acute to slightly retuse.        -   Base.—Narrow attenuate.        -   Arrangement.—Rotate.        -   Length.—Approximately 1.5 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 2.5 mm.        -   Color.—Upper surface at first opening: Near White 155B.            Upper surface at maturity: Near White 155B. Upper surface at            fading: Near Greyed-Orange 164D. Under surface at first            opening: Near White 155B. Under surface at maturity: Near            White 155B.-   Disc florets:    -   -   Appearance.—Shiny.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Average number of florets per disc.—Approximately 20.        -   Shape.—Tubular.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Fused into tubular shape.        -   Arrangement.—Rotate, spirally arranged.        -   Average length.—Approximately 5 mm.        -   Average width.—Approximately 0.3 mm.        -   Color.—At first opening: Near Green 137C. At maturity: Apex:            Near Yellow-Green 150C and Green-Yellow 1C. Mid-Section:            Between Yellow-Green 145B and Yellow-Green 145C. Base:            Between Green 137C and Green 137D. At fading: Near            Yellow-Green 152A to Grey-Brown 199A.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—At terminal end (shortest): Approximately 2.5 cm. At            lateral end (longest): Approximately 6.9 cm.        -   Angle to stem.—30°.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Color.—Near Green 143A.        -   Habit.—Slightly upright.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 1 mm.        -   Surface texture.—Lightly pubescent.-   Inflorescence bud:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 8 mm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 1 cm.        -   Form.—Obovate.        -   Color.—Near Green 137A with apex between Yellow-Green 150A            and Yellow-Green 150B.-   Involucral bracts (Phyllaries):    -   -   Appearance.—Slightly glossy.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Number.—Approximately 42.        -   Shape.—Linear, curved.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Arrangement.—Rotate with an average of four rows.        -   Length.—Approximately 6 mm.        -   Width.—Approximately 1.5 mm.        -   Color.—Upper side: Near Green 137A. Under side: Near Green            137B.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Ray florets:    -   -   Number of pistils per floret.—1.        -   Stigma shape.—Decurrent.        -   Stigma color.—Near Yellow 8C.        -   Style color.—Between Yellow-Green 145C and Yellow-Green            145D.        -   Style length.—Approximately 2.5 mm.        -   Stamens.—Absent.-   Disc florets:    -   -   Number of pistils per floret.—1.        -   Stigma shape.—Decurrent.        -   Stigma color.—Near Yellow 8C.        -   Style color.—Between Yellow-Green 145C and Yellow-Green            145D.        -   Style length.—Approximately 2.5 mm.        -   Stamens.—Absent.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Disease resistance: Less sensitive to Botrytis in flower than ‘White    Prestige’ and less sensitive to powdery mildew.-   Drought tolerance/cold tolerance: Moderate. Need more details,    example: Flowering plants are hardy to low temperatures about    −15° C. and high temperatures of at least 35° C. with moderate wind    and rain tolerance.-   Fruit/seed production: Commercially, this plant is not used or    observed in a stage where seeds would be produced. Therefore, seed    production has not been observed.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Aster plant named ‘PRETTY WENDY’ as herein illustrated and described. 